PRP is blood plasma containing a concentration of
platelets many times greater than occurs
normally in blood.

Blood consists of approximately 93% red blood
cells (RBC), 1% white blood cells (WBC) and 6%
platelets, all suspended in plasma. The basis for
the benefit of platelet rich plasma lies in
decreasing the RBC count to 5% since they are
less useful in the healing process while increasing
the platelet count to 94%.

Platelets are biological constituents of blood, along with red and white blood cells. Platelets are
probably best known as components of the blood clotting system. When injury disrupts a blood
vessel and causes bleeding, platelets are quickly activated and help with the formation of a clot that
stems the flow of blood.

In addition, every platelet is also a biochemical storehouse of regulatory, signaling and growthfactor
molecules that participate in recovery and healing of tissue in response to injury. Growthfactor
molecules associated with platelets include:

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) - a regulator of normal physiology in nearly every type of cell in the body

All of these growth factors initiate and enhance physiologic processes that contribute to tissue
recovery and health after injury. The growth factors are also involved in normal physiologic
processes such as blood vessel formation.

PRP injections artificially increase the number of platelets at a site where the storehouse of growth
factors in the platelets can be put to use in enhancing tissue recovery, repair and health.

How is PRP collected?

Blood is withdrawn from a patient’s arm by syringe, as it would be for any
laboratory procedure. The tubes containing withdrawn blood are placed in
a centrifuge and spun using a carefully determined protocol (the speed
and duration of centrifugation is very important to ensure the platelets
are not damaged, as this can lead to premature release of growth factors,
rendering the treatment less effective). Centrifuging separates the red and
white blood cells and platelets and concentrates them at various levels in
the tubes. Blood plasma that is rich in platelets is drawn off from the
appropriate level.

Plasma defined as platelet-rich plasma contains four to eight times the
number of platelets per milliliter found in normal plasma. With a little
additional preparation the PRP is ready for application.

The platelet rich plasma is injected into areas of scalp that show hair
thinning. The platelets are then activated to release growth factors by
needling the injected area using a 1 mm. micro needling device.

Blood Collection

Double Centrifuge

First Centrifuge

Second Centrifuge

Separate PPP and PRP

Dermal Injection into affected area

PRP in Hair Loss

The aim of using PRP is to make use of the full array of platelet-associated growth factors to preserve and enhance hair follicle viability by reinvigorating dormant hair follicles, thus stimulating new hair growth.

Investigators in the USA conducted a small study of PRP effect on dormant hair follicles. The study hypothesized that platelet growth factors can "wake up" dormant hair follicles and begin the production of new hair. PRP was applied after scalp skin was slightly injured to induce platelets to release growth factors at the injury site. Enhanced hair growth and hair diameter was noted over the next four months.

Safety, Complications and Contraindications to the use of PRP

PRP is immunologically neutral and poses no danger of allergic, hypersensitivity or foreign-body reactions.

Sterile technique must be used at every stage of PRP preparation and application. Sterile technique is especially important if a patient has an underlying medical condition that predisposes to infection.

A brief period of inflammation at wound sites may be experienced by a patient after PRP treatment. Inflammation may be associated with release of platelet-associated factors at the wound site.

Some medical conditions may be a contraindication to the use of PRP. Many of these are not absolute contraindications because the conditions vary from patient to patient. It is wise to raise the question with us when the use of PRP is discussed.